Solve by Graphing

Mass from Density and Volume on the SAT: Desmos Walkthrough

Type the whole calculation on one Desmos line and read the value it shows, no by-hand arithmetic needed.

This lesson solves by graphing: turn the equation into curves, then read intersections, vertices, or tangency straight off the Desmos graph.

Take this lesson interactively

A real SAT-style question

The density of a certain solid substance is $813$ kilograms per cubic meter. A sample of this substance is in the shape of a cube, where each edge has a length of $0.60$ meters. To the nearest whole number, what is the mass, in kilograms, of this sample?

$176$

$488$

$1,355$

$3,764$

How to solve it in Desmos, step by step

The idea

Mass equals density times volume, so type the whole calculation on one line and let Desmos display the value.

1
Step 1
Type this exact line into an empty Desmos row. Desmos shows the answer as soon as you finish.
Type in Desmos
$813\cdot0.60^{3}$
2
Step 2
Read the value Desmos displays at the end of that row. It shows 175.608, which rounds to the nearest whole number 176. That matches choice A.

The answer is A.

$176$

Now you try one

Same question type, different numbers. Use the exact Desmos moves from the walkthrough above.

The density of a certain solid substance is 742 kilograms per cubic meter. A sample of this substance is in the shape of a cube, where each edge has a length of

0.50

meters. To the nearest whole number, what is the mass, in kilograms, of this sample?

Practice this with a live Desmos calculator

The interactive version of this lesson builds the Desmos graph up step by step as you click through, with a live calculator you can type into and your progress saved.

Open the interactive lesson

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